CybersecurityCheck Point identified a new, image-based method for malware dissemination

Published 28 November 2016

Check Point researchers identified a new attack vector, named ImageGate, which embeds malware in image and graphic files. Furthermore, the researchers have discovered the hackers’ method of executing the malicious code within these images through social media applications such as Facebook and LinkedIn.

Check Point researchers identified a new attack vector, named ImageGate, which embeds malware in image and graphic files. Furthermore, the researchers have discovered the hackers’ method of executing the malicious code within these images through social media applications such as Facebook and LinkedIn.

Check Pont says that according to the research, the attackers have built a new capability to embed malicious code into an image file and successfully upload it to the social media Web site. The attackers exploit a misconfiguration on the social media infrastructure to deliberately force their victims to download the image file. This results in infection of the users’ device as soon as the end-user clicks on the downloaded file.

In the past week, the entire security industry is closely following the massive spread of the Locky ransomware via social media, particularly in its Facebook-based campaign. Check Point says its researchers strongly believe the new ImageGate technique reveals how this campaign was made possible, a question which has been unanswered until now.

The Check Point researchers uncovered the attack vector, which affects major Web sites and social networks worldwide, including Facebook and LinkedIn. Check Point updated Facebook and LinkedIn of the attack vector early in September.

Watch the demo: https://youtu.be/sGlrLFo43pY

In the case of the Locky ransomware, once users download and open the malicious file they receive — all the files on their personal device are automatically encrypted and they can only gain access to them after the ransom is paid. The industry estimate is that the campaign is still on-going and that it creates new victims every day.

As more people spend time on social networking sites, hackers have turned their focus to find a way in to these platforms. Cyber criminals understand these sites are usually “white listed,” and for this reason they are continually searching for new techniques to use social media as hosts for their malicious activities. To protect users against the most advanced threats, Check Point strives to identify where attackers will strike next.

How to stay protected
Check Point recommends the following preventive measures:

1. If you have clicked on an image and your browser starts downloading a file, do not open it. Any social media Web site should display the picture without downloading any file.
2. Do not open any image file with unusual extension (such as SVG, JS, or HTA).

Check Point adds that it will publish adetailed and technical disclosure of the attack vector only after the remediation of the vulnerability in the major affected Web sites, in order to prevent attackers from taking advantage of this information.